Improvement in gate-latches



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK KETOHAM, OF ELIZABETH TOWNSHIP, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PA.

IMPRVEM ENT IN GATE-LATCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 57,152, dated August 14, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK KETCHAM, of the township of Elizabeth, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improved Gate- Fastening, which I term a Gate-Supporter, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in Which- Figure l is a side elevation of a gate with my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is afaee view of both parts of my gate-supporter. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken in the plane of the line m a', Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

The object of this invention is to provide a support for holding up a gate or keeping it from saggin g While closed Without permitting the weight of the gate to come upon the latch thereof; and it consists in the employment of a bracket of peculiar construction, to be applied to the inner face of the gate-post, and in employing, in connection therewith, a roller having its bearings in a peculiar-shaped cap, as will be 'presently described.

A designates a gate constructed and hung in the ordinary Way, and B B the fence-posts at each end ot' the gate.

O designates the supporting-piece or bracket. The form for the bracket which I think best adapted for the purpose is shown in Fig. 2. It consists of a long arm the plane of Whose upper side is slightly upward, and at the end of this plane there is a hook or depression, b, into which the latch of the gate falls to keep the gate closed, and beyond this depression the bracket takes a vertical direction, so as to form a stop for the latch when the gate is rapidly elosed. This bracket is secured to the inner face of the gate-posts by screws, or in any suitable manner.

D is a cap, which is secured to the front batteu E of the gate in any proper manner. This cap is like a heart in shape, and it has a hollow projection or shaft, b, extending out from one side, upon which there is tted to rotate a wheel, F. This cap, with the roller, is to be applied to the inner face of the front hatten E of the gate, and so arranged that when the gate is being closed it will roll up the bracket C, and thus supportthe weight of the gate, the latch only serving as a means for keeping the gate closed.

In practice it is intended to cast the bracket in one piece and the cap in another and the roller in another, so that the whole device will consist of but three pieces.

This gate-fastening is simple in all its parts and it operates in a most satisfactory manner:

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination ot the bracket C, cap D, wheel F, post B, and gate A, substantially as shown and described.

FRANK KETCHAM. 

